Extend lives of holiday plants with a few tricks

It is not a secret that we live in a somewhat disposable
society, where socks are no longer mended and potted flowering
seasonal plants end up in the garbage.

There is life after blooming for holiday plants, such as
poinsettias, cyclamen, azalea and Christmas cactus, even though you
may be in for a challenge.

Consider that these plants came from a sort of paradise: a nice
comfortable hothouse where temperatures are just right, humidity is
perfect and food is given on a daily basis. Our living rooms can
never compete with these ideal growing conditions; temperatures are
usually too high and light too low, so it is inevitable that these
plants will experience a sort of culture shock resulting in a
setback.

However, with a few little tricks, you can extend the life of
these ornamental plants a little longer -- maybe even into the next
growing season.

First of all, when you take a plant home from the garden center,
place it in as bright a spot as possible in the house, or in a
shady patio with some morning sun. Never let the soil dry out
completely. And add a diluted solution of plant food with every
other watering.

Temperature extremes should be avoided if possible; ideally
somewhere between 60 and 70 degrees is ideal. Humidity should be
kept above average. If misting is practical (without damaging
furniture, or perhaps by misting the plant outside) this will be
useful.

After the plant has stopped blooming (by then it's probably
January or February) you may move the plant outdoors on a protected
patio or plant it directly in the garden in a semi-sunny location,
except for cyclamen, which are better in their pots. The Christmas
cactus -- after it has opened every bud -- can be moved to a shady
place outside. Cut back on watering and food until new spring
growth starts to appear. Next Christmas, it may bloom again.

Poinsettias -- after they have lost their small yellow flowers
and even their colorful bracts -- can be cut back to about a third
of their size. In the spring, they will send out new green shoots.
Next winter, they may produce colorful leaves again.

Cyclamen, with its elegant white, red, or pastel pinks, doesn't
do very well indoors; it is usually far too warm. Leaves will turn
yellow and go limp and unopened flower buds may not open but
shrivel up and die. Instead, ideal is a shady spot with no food and
little water until warm spring weather wakes up the corm (a form of
bulb) and new leaves pop up, followed by flowers in the fall. Then
start feeding again.

Azalea, a woody member of the rhododendron family with red,
white or pink flowers, is a delightful holiday plant, but, like the
cyclamen, it prefers a cool location. Only keep it indoors during
your holiday celebrations, then move it to a shady place in your
garden.

The Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) is actually a
jungle cactus and likes warmth and high humidity. Keep the soil
moist and mist the unopened flowerbuds at least daily.

What is a Christmas without the magnificent amaryllis, a bulbous
plant native to south Africa, with huge trumpet-shaped flowers,
often four or five of them on a two- or three-foot flower stalk?
After the flowers wilt, cut them off. Often a second or third
flower stalk will emerge from the bulb. Only after or during
blooming will the leaves come up.